Erethistoides
Erethistoides is a genus of South Asian river catfishes.
Species
There are currently 10 recognized species in this genus:Erethistoides ascita H. H. Ng & Edds, 2005Erethistoides cavatura H. H. Ng & Edds, 2005Erethistoides infuscatus H. H. Ng, 2006Erethistoides longispinis H. H. Ng, Ferraris & Neely, 2012Erethistoides luteolus H. H. Ng, Ferraris & Neely, 2012Erethistoides montana Hora, 1950Erethistoides pipri Hora, 1950Erethistoides senkhiensis Tamang, Chaudhry & Choudhury, 2008Erethistoides sicula H. H. Ng, 2005Erethistoides vesculus H. H. Ng, Ferraris & Neely, 2012
This genus is known from the sub-Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent. They are found in the Brahmaputra and Meghna drainages, northern India and Nepal.
Description
Erethistoides is distinguished from all other erethistids by having the anterior margin of the pectoral fin spine with serrations directed toward the tip of the spine distally, and away from the tip proximally; however, the use of this as a diagnostic character has been questioned as some specimens of Erethistes filamentosa also show this trait. They also lack a thoracic adhesive apparatus present in some other erethistids, and a smooth to granulate anterior margin on the dorsal fin spine, moderate gill openings that extend to the underside of the fish, a papillate upper lip, and 9-11 anal fin rays. The head is depressed and triangular, and the body is elongate and compressed. The eyes are small to moderate and are placed dorsolaterally in the posterior half of the head. The pectoral fin spine is serrated anteriorly and posteriorly. The dorsal fin spine is serrated posteriorly but not anteriorly.